Scoop the Poop to Protect the Lake

Here are some examples of images used in campaigns in other places.

Pet waste may not be the largest or most toxic pollutant for the lake, but it is one of the many little sources of pollution that add up to a big problem. Fortunately, there are some simple things we can all do to help keep our water clean.

Pet Waste: Not a Natural Part of the Ecosystem
There are hundreds of animals in the forest, and nobody seems worried how their waste products affect the environment, so why should you worry about pet waste?

According to the U.S. Humane Society, 40% of United States households have at least one dog. This is a much higher population density of large mammals than you would find in a natural forest. Large animal populations yield lots of waste for the ecosystem to decompose. In a natural forest, this waste would slowly be broken down by microorganisms and would then be filtered through the soil by rain and snowmelt.

In an urban or rural setting, the natural system has been altered by increased runoff due to impervious surfaces (surfaces that do not allow water to infiltrate the soil, including rooftops and asphalt or concrete roads, parking lots and sidewalks). Pet waste that isn't properly disposed of will often be flushed into streams and lakes before being completely broken down.

Contaminants in Pet Waste
When pet waste is disposed of improperly, not only water quality suffers – your health may be at risk, too. Pets, children who play outside, and adults who garden are most at risk for infection from some of the bacteria and parasites found in pet waste. Flies may also spread diseases from animal waste. Diseases or parasites that can be transmitted from pet waste to humans include:

• Campylobacteriosis - a bacteria carried by some cats and dogs causing gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea) in humans;
• Cryptosporidium - a protozoan parasite that can be carried by dogs, cats, mice, some farm animals, and many other mammals causing gastrointestinal illness in humans. Common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and dehydration;
• Toxocariasis - roundworms that may be transmitted from dogs to humans often without obvious symptoms; may cause vision loss, a rash, fever, or cough;
• Toxoplasmosis - protozoan parasite that may be transmitted from cats to humans that can cause birth defects such as mental retardation and blindness if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy; symptoms include headache, muscle aches, and lymph node enlargement.
• All of these diseases are of particular concern if contracted by people with depressed immune systems.

Pet waste also contains phosphorus, which can lead to increased algal growth in the lake. Click here to go to the page that explains the impacts of phosphorous on water quality.

Image from “Pet Waste and Water Quality,” University of Wisconsin, Extension, 1993.

What Should Pet Owners Do?
Most of us don't have dogs willing to use the indoor facilities, so pet owners need to clean up for them.

Pet waste should be picked up and either be:

• Flushed down the toilet (be sure to pick out rocks and sticks first);
• Put in the trash; or
• Buried in your own yard. If you want to bury pet waste, make sure it is in a hole around five inches deep, away from vegetable gardens and water sources, and in permeable soil (not clay). Do not add it to compost piles (because the pile will not get hot enough to kill disease organisms).